IPL 2026 season has produced several surprising stories, but one of the biggest talking points has been the struggles of some of the league’s most established bowlers. While franchises invested heavily in experienced pace attacks, a few big names have failed to live up to expectations, delivering poor wicket returns and expensive spells. From leaking runs in the power play to struggling for breakthroughs in crucial moments, these players have endured unusually difficult campaigns. Here is a look at five bowlers who, in our opinion, have emerged among the worst bowlers in IPL 2026 so far based on performances and overall impact.
Trent Boult (Mumbai Indians)
Trent Boult’s form has been one of the biggest shocks of the season. Known for destroying batting line-ups with the new ball, the left-arm pacer has looked far from his best in IPL 2026.
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In five matches, Boult has managed only two wickets while conceding 188 runs from 97 balls. His average of 94.00 and economy rate of 11.63 reflect just how difficult the season has been for him. Mumbai Indians usually depend on Boult to provide early breakthroughs, but he has struggled badly in the power play. Batters have attacked him fearlessly, and his inability to swing the ball consistently has hurt the team. For a bowler with such a strong IPL reputation, these numbers are disappointing and place him firmly among the worst bowlers in IPL 2026 so far.
Arshdeep Singh (Punjab Kings)
Arshdeep Singh’s IPL 2026 campaign has been a strange mix of positives and negatives. On paper, 11 wickets in 10 matches appear respectable, but his economy rate of 10.42 has been a massive concern. He has conceded 396 runs from 228 balls, while his bowling average stands at 36.00.
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The broader concern for Punjab Kings is that despite sitting second on the IPL 2026 points table with 13 points from 10 matches and a healthy net run rate of +0.571, their recent performances have exposed major bowling weaknesses.
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PBKS have suffered a string of defeats in recent games, with bowling and fielding lapses repeatedly hurting the side. Arshdeep has often picked up wickets only after leaking boundaries, especially during the death overs, where he has usually been dependable in previous seasons. Considering the expectations surrounding him as a lead pacer, his overall impact has fallen short of the standards fans expect from him.
Jasprit Bumrah (Mumbai Indians)
Jasprit Bumrah, having a poor IPL season, was something very few fans expected before the tournament began. Widely regarded as one of the best T20 bowlers in the world, Bumrah has surprisingly taken only three wickets in 10 matches this season. He has conceded 329 runs from 222 balls, with a bowling average of 109.67 and a strike rate of 74.00.
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Although his economy rate of 8.89 is not disastrous by modern T20 standards, the lack of wickets has been shocking. Bumrah’s greatest strength has always been his ability to produce breakthroughs under pressure, but that sharpness has not been visible this year.
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Several matches have passed without him making a decisive impact, and opponents have handled his spells more comfortably than expected. Based on expectations alone, Bumrah’s numbers make him one of the most surprising underperformers of IPL 2026.
Mohammed Shami (Lucknow Super Giants)
Mohammed Shami has not been terrible this season, but he has still fallen below the standards fans associate with him. The experienced Indian pacer has picked up nine wickets in 10 matches while conceding 336 runs from 234 balls. His economy rate of 8.62 is decent, but his bowling average of 37.33 shows that wickets have not come consistently enough.
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Shami was expected to lead the bowling attack and dominate with the new ball, but that level of control and aggression has been missing. While he has occasionally bowled disciplined spells, he has not produced the kind of match-winning performances expected from a senior international fast bowler. Compared to his previous IPL seasons, this campaign has clearly been underwhelming.
Marco Jansen (Punjab Kings)
Marco Jansen rounds off this list after a difficult and inconsistent IPL 2026 season. The tall South African all-rounder has taken only six wickets in 10 matches while conceding 350 runs from 212 balls. His bowling average of 58.33 and economy rate of 9.91 clearly underline his struggles this year.
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The broader concern for Punjab Kings is that despite sitting second on the IPL 2026 points table with 13 points from 10 matches and a net run rate of +0.571, their recent results have exposed major bowling problems. PBKS have suffered consecutive defeats with bowling and fielding lapses repeatedly hurting the team.
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Jansen has often looked ineffective when batters have attacked aggressively, with several spells going for heavy runs. While he still offers bounce and variation, his overall impact has not matched the expectations PBKS had from one of their key overseas signings this season.
Conclusion
Overall, IPL 2026 has highlighted how even the most experienced pacers can struggle in a demanding tournament. Several bowlers expected to lead from the front have failed to deliver consistent performances, leaking runs and struggling for crucial wickets. Their lack of impact has often hurt their teams in pressure situations, especially during the power play and death overs.
While there is still time for some redemption before the business end of the tournament, these performances have been disappointing by their usual standards. Based on form, statistics, and expectations, these players have undoubtedly been among the worst bowlers in IPL 2026 so far.
